RUDOLF, MAX

RUDOLF, MAX (1902–1995), U.S. conductor of German birth. Born in Frankfurt on the Main, Rudolf attended the university there and later graduated from the Hoch-Conservatorium fuer Musik. After serving as a coach at the Freiburg Opera (1922–23), he became conductor at Darmstadt at the early age of 25 (from 1923 to 1929). From 1929 to 1935, he made Prague his base as an opera and symphonic conductor at the German Theatre. In 1935 he went to Sweden, until 1940, when he immigrated to the United States, and joined the staff of the Metropolitan Opera Company, of which he became artistic administrator in 1950. He remained at the Metropolitan for 13 seasons. In 1958, Rudolf became chief conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a post he retained until 1970, when he joined the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia (1970–73). He published The Grammar of Conducting in 1950. His recordings include Hänsel und Gretel (in English) and Don Giovanni. (Max Loppert / Israela Stein (2nd ed.)